First lady to donors: 'Maxing out' would be 'baller'

Obama encouraged donors to shell out for upcoming elections, saying it was important to stay engaged in the political process even when “the excitement that comes with the presidential campaign has faded.”

“It's easy to get frustrated and to become cynical,” she said. “And now that the excitement that comes with presidential campaign has faded, it is so tempting to turn off that TV and wait another four years to re-engage. But make no mistake about it, while we are tuning out, let me tell you, other folks are tuning in.”

At the LGBT Gala, the First Lady was introduced by Washington Wizards center Jason Collins, who earlier this year became the first man active in a major sport to announce he was gay.

“I hope my actions give courage to those still unsure about coming out and I hope it shows them the overwhelming amount of support that is waiting for them,” Collins said at the gala. “If there's one thing to take away from my experience, it's that we're not alone.”

The first lady and President Obama were vocal supporters of Collins decision to come out, and he called Michelle Obama “a steadfast champion for LGBT families.”

President Obama attended a pair of Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraisers in Chicago on Wednesday night.